Only able to run a couple of apps at a time

[tarnhelm]

Hi, I am running a homebuilt computer, which has beed running just fine for a year or more. until the last couple of weeks, that is. lately i have found I can run two or three apps, after which new ones fail to load or act strangely. I have performed a full scan with symantec AV and MBAM, but nothing has turned up. the computer is not running slowly, and memory usage is low. I did notice that page file usage was rather high though, over 1 GB, considering little is running, and ram usage is at about 50%.

MBAM did find the following about a week ago:

Files Infected:

C:\Documents and Settings\Philip Obley\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\f_000fa2 (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

C:\System Volume Information\_restore{64230E34-846A-431B-AC68-71D0E139293B}\RP159\A0056936.sys (Rootkit.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

H:\Program Files\WinFast\SuperUtilities\Fxdrv.sys (Rootkit.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

I'm reasonably competent with computers (I built this one), but no expert. Any suggestions as to where to start?

Just as an example, to run Hijackthis, I had to limit myself to one open tab for IE7. nothing special shows up in the scan, aside from a configuration problem with bonjour.

thanks for any help or advice.

Phil

[tarnhelm]

Hi, I am running a homebuilt computer, which has beed running just fine for a year or more. until the last couple of weeks, that is. lately i have found I can run two or three apps, after which new ones fail to load or act strangely. I have performed a full scan with symantec AV and MBAM, but nothing has turned up. the computer is not running slowly, and memory usage is low. I did notice that page file usage was rather high though, over 1 GB, considering little is running, and ram usage is at about 50%.

MBAM did find the following about a week ago:

Files Infected:

C:\Documents and Settings\Philip Obley\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\f_000fa2 (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

C:\System Volume Information\_restore{64230E34-846A-431B-AC68-71D0E139293B}\RP159\A0056936.sys (Rootkit.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

H:\Program Files\WinFast\SuperUtilities\Fxdrv.sys (Rootkit.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

I'm reasonably competent with computers (I built this one), but no expert. Any suggestions as to where to start?

Just as an example, to run Hijackthis, I had to limit myself to one open tab for IE7. nothing special shows up in the scan, aside from a configuration problem with bonjour.

thanks for any help or advice.

Phil

==================

Well after more tinkering, I think my registry is in serious trouble. is there a consensus on the best tool to correct it? just no friends or family please...

;-)

Phil

[DragonMaster Jay]

Download WhoCrashed from here

This program checks for any drivers which may have been causing your computer to crash....

Click on the file you just downloaded and run it.

Put a tick in Accept then click on Next

Put a tick in the Don't create a start menu folder then click Next

Put a tick in Create a Desktop Icon then click on Install and make sure there is a tick in Launch Whocrashed before clicking Finish

Click Analyze

It will want to download the Debugger and install it Say Yes

WhoCrashed will create report but you have to scroll down to see it

Copy and paste it into your next reply

[tarnhelm]

thanks for that. results were negative, but I'll look into thermal issues as a possible cause and report back.

[yardbird]

If you think it could be a temperature issue? Try this out: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php Let us know? regards..

EDIT: Or test your memory: http://www.memtest86.com/

[tarnhelm]

well, it was a temperature issue. my not-very-old cpu fan had died. I think there's more to the story so I'll try the memory diagnostic soon.

thanks.[

quote name=yardbird' date='Feb 25 2010, 11:43 PM' post='206109]

If you think it could be a temperature issue? Try this out: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php Let us know? regards..

EDIT: Or test your memory: http://www.memtest86.com/

[tarnhelm]

Well, no memory errors. this has 2 GB, and intel 6600, not overclocked. with one IE7 tab open and seven chrome tabs open I can open MyComputer and display system info. one more IE tab and I cannot, but I can still start Outlook. one more IE tab and Outlook crashes, and i cannot open My Computer. there's plenty of memory available (750MB) and the PF is a little over 1GB in use. mind you, this is more of a puzzle than a real world usage issue, but I know it didn't behave this way a few weeks ago.

any chance the cpu was compromised by overheating? it was runnning at 60+ C, and is now around 30 C. I should have been paying attention...

[noknojon]

My 3 year old unit quite often runs that hot (I think I need to clean my filters) but it can be 'almost' normal for some - - 30C is actually very cool - - 45-50c is what I call normal - Have you installed Speed Fan(from yardbird) - A good tool to check temps and usage directly off the machine - Just Google it (free and good program) -

Regards - B)

EDIT - I have my A/V running and it is reading mid 60c (CPU) and mid 50c (system) - Bit hot but it will cool soon -(A/Virus + Yahoo mail Tab and Forum Tab open)

[tarnhelm]

thanks for the suggestions. I am running speedfan, which shows a couple of components running over 60 C. one is a motherboard component (LM75) the other is the graphics card. bother are just around the 60C mark.

I have a new version of Symantec security to install tomorrow. maybe I'll get lucky.

[noknojon]

Hi -

over 60 C. one is a motherboard component

I think that the M/board over 60C is very hot - CPU for a brief time may be ok , but not M/board -

You need a new fan or an extra fan to cool this area - Also ensure there is plenty of fresh air getting in via the fan - I have seen air intakes placed at the back of a computer that would never allow enough air in - At 30% CPU usage I am reading System 44-48C - CPU 55-60C - AUX 40C - This is on a system that is badly in need of a good dusting and 'should' have an upgraded fan -

Regards -

[tarnhelm]

thanks. I'll see if I can get better fans. the video card might need a better one, too.

[tarnhelm]

well. after running a large number of tests and other measurements, I am pretty sure this is not a hardware problem. the hot motherboard component was really the same indicator as the video card, and I really doubt 60C is that serious. I might wind up with a clean install of XP, or something like it...

I'll post something if the solution winds up being something else. thanks for all the suggestions.

[AdvancedSetup]

Here is a large generic guide that might help.

Computer and browser slowness are not always malware related

Poor performance and other problems can be the result of disk fragmentation, disk errors, corrupt system files, too many startup programs, unnecessary services running, not enough RAM, dirty hardware, etc. As your system gets older it becomes filled with more files/programs and has a natural tendency to slow down so cleaning and regular maintenance is essential.

Listed below are a few things you can do to improve speed and system performance. Many of the these suggestions will apply if you're using Windows Vista but may be done a bit differently. Near the bottom of this thread there is a section specifically devoted to Vista Users.

For browser problems, see:

• Its not always malware: How to fix the top 10 Internet Explorer issues
  
• How and Why to Clear Your Cache
  

If your having connectivity issues or errors such as Page cannot be displayed see

• Repair/Reset Winsock settings
  
• Troubleshooting Internet Connection Problems
  

If you're using Vista or Internet Explorer 7, see

• Why is my Internet connection so slow?
  
• Windows Vista - My Internet connection is slow
  
• The Phishing Filter may slow down the PC
  
• Tuning IE7 for Better Performance
  
• How to optimize or reset Internet Explorer 7
  

If you have a lot of toolbars and add-ons attached to Internet Explorer, you could try improving performance by disabling those which are unecessary. See:

• Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager
  
• Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer

[YoKenny1]

I would make sure all the dust bunnies are gone as 60C is quite hot as I get concerned if I see 50C on my systems.

AMD CPUs do tend to run hot but they tend to self distruct faster than P4s I believe.

[DragonMaster Jay]

Usually a GPU runs idle as low as 30*C, and when it is active it can run as much as 80*C. Mostly when it is active, it means you are playing a game that uses a lot of graphic memory, or doing an activity that uses a lot of graphic memory.

I doubt there is an issue with any of the temps. You would know it...trust me.

When a GPU/CPU runs hotter than 100*C, that signifies corruption/overheat. I saw one computer up to 125*C.

If a temperature gets over 80*C, is when it is a good idea to start getting better cooling methods, such as fans - cooling gel/oil, etc.

Did you try my request in post #3?

I have another test, especially if your apps are running slowly, or you are not able to run too many apps at one time.

[tarnhelm]

thanks for all the ideas, but nothing pans out.

just to be clear there is no performance issue, but if I try to have more than three or four apps running (like explorer, media player, outlook), I am unable to start anything else running. the open apps will run fine. I have since run all manner of diagnostics on the motherboard and videocard, which all pass just fine. no new software other than Tax Cut 2009, no malware, no nothing. task manager will show about 1GB free physical memory when this happens. about 20% of the time the requested application will fail with an error message that makes it clear that some resource is being exhasted. I'll try to recreate that, too.

I did notice that normal.dot has been corrupted. I erased it and let Word recreate it. I'll check that again.

I decided to put of a clean install until my taxes are done. Given my usual procrastination, fear and loathing that will probably be in four more weeks. :-)

the computer runs, just in a slightly impaired state.

btw the video card stays in the low 60's temperature wise. when running a fairly intense benchmarking test, it reached 87C and stayed there.

[DragonMaster Jay]

How much RAM do you have?

Also, XP - Vista - 7?

[tarnhelm]

hi I have 2GB memory and XP PRO SP3

I'm sure I've overlooked the obvious somewhere. the computer is 100% usable and still shows nearly 1GB free physical memory when it starts to act up. I'll jst keep poking away till something becomes obvious. it usually is something obvious, after all. it just isn't obvious right now, obviously...

:-)

[tarnhelm]

well, you know, I just happen o have sever gb of ram lying around, so i toss another 2GB on the barbie. it seems to have solved the immediate problem, though it still leaves the question of why unanswered. it can stay that way.

[tarnhelm]

there must be an echo in here. in fact adding 2GB only raised the threshold a decent bit. I'd have to say it's acting like the swap file is not functioning at all. until something gets solved I have another 2GB of memory I can toss in if need be...

[DragonMaster Jay]

Do you know the type of your processor?

[tarnhelm]

you betcha. E6600. Adding memory only delayed the effect it seems. I might try diabling the page file temporarily. like I said despite reports the system BEHAVES like there is no page file. I have another 2GB I could slap in but I doubt it would matter. Although this config passes a battery of tests, perhaps now that it is badly faltering again I'll re-run those tests.

there is no slowness at all in the apps that are running.

I'd consider upgrading the processor, as it is a bit old, but I'd prefer not to trash the motherboard.

[DragonMaster Jay]

What type of programs are you wanting to run?

[tarnhelm]

I do audio post-processing of music, but nothing too exotic. otherwise Office apps and internet. I use outlook as n email client.

btw, the motherboard/cpu testing crashed toward the end of its run. I'm not sue if there's a connection. the log file generated by the crash shows it was actually almost done.

[mylanta3]

If you ran for too long with the bad cpu fan, well that could have damaged the cpu and/or the motherboard. Cpu should shut down before damage on an Intel cpu but the board well anything could have happened there.